cato113:Do they have no sense of self awareness or am I the real racist for pointing that out?

The caption says they're "moving their arms with the singing of Taps" so I suspect that while it is possible that these folks don't have enough brains to fill a matchbox even without removing the matches first, it is also entirely possible that of any number of photos that were taken that one is the most damning when removed from any context. But that depends on the news media ripping a photo out of context without informing the public. And we all know that would NEVER happen.

I'll never understand how these assholes can assume they know what god wants and still all them Christians. I think if there is a christian god, he's more complex than "I hate them gays. If you let them into boyscouts you're evil hurrr."

OH COME ON! Seriously?!?!? The frigging Nazi salute? There's absolutely 100% no farking way that the folks inventing this group have any confusion about EXACTLY who they're emulating. That is not unintentional.

This is the face of christianity which is souring people on the church. Yes, I am well aware that many believers are as disgusted as I am by the rise of satanic, christianity-twisting, blasphemous evangelicals like this - the folks who hate gays so much they are obsessed about ostracizing them in every way they can get away with. But these folks are the ones who are out there getting the attention for the faith. And they're not just a tiny fringe, this is modern "evangelical christianity" - what a large swath of American christians believe in. They've successfully steered the course of public discourse to the point that they are now the mainstream public view of what christianity stands for in America, and that for some reason our public policies are supposed to kowtow to this vile poison of christian teachings.

I don't believe in the devil, but if I did I'm sure you could rest assured that he'd be quite supportive of their efforts and firmly a member of the evangelical community. There'd be no better way he could steer the faithful away from the teachings of Jesus.

Well, it looks like they finally are getting what they wanted. To isolate themselves from those who don't follow their narrow religion, and to isolate their kids, too. It's like they just can't come to terms with the idea that they have to live with other people not quite like themselves.

I wonder what will happen when a Mormon kid wants to join a Trail Life troop....

Chunks McGunks:I'll never understand how these assholes can assume they know what god wants and still all them Christians. I think if there is a christian god, he's more complex than "I hate them gays. If you let them into boyscouts you're evil hurrr."

Not really. He's a whiny brat that throws temper tantrums until he gets what he wants. Have you read the bible?

akula:it is also entirely possible that of any number of photos that were taken that one is the most damning when removed from any context. But that depends on the news media ripping a photo out of context without informing the public. And we all know that would NEVER happen.

This was also my take; as ridiculous as the rationale for breaking away from the Boy Scouts of America is from many perspectives, I cannot imagine a lack of awareness to an extent as to both make this the official salute as well as allow this to be photographed to be shown in the opening months of this organization. Rather, conservative lack of awareness stems from being insular, but no one outside of the truly bigoted would believe such a sign would be acceptable.

This might actually be a very good thing: if all the really extreme right-wing types leave BSA, then maybe BSA can become more accepting. Not holding my breath, but anything that can help revert the stranglehold that various christian-ish religions have on the BSA can only be a good thing.

I already had to leave BSA due to my [lack of] religious beliefs; the anti-homosexual stuff was just one more reason to stay away -- and that pisses me off, because I feel that I had some good times and learned some useful lessons through my time in scouting (Eagle in 1990, Nat'l Jamboree 1989, World Jamboree 1991). I wish my kids could have had some of those same experiences, but I couldn't stomach the necessary hypocrisy.

mongbiohazard:OH COME ON! Seriously?!?!? The frigging Nazi salute? There's absolutely 100% no farking way that the folks inventing this group have any confusion about EXACTLY who they're emulating. That is not unintentional.

This is the face of christianity which is souring people on the church. Yes, I am well aware that many believers are as disgusted as I am by the rise of satanic, christianity-twisting, blasphemous evangelicals like this - the folks who hate gays so much they are obsessed about ostracizing them in every way they can get away with. But these folks are the ones who are out there getting the attention for the faith. And they're not just a tiny fringe, this is modern "evangelical christianity" - what a large swath of American christians believe in. They've successfully steered the course of public discourse to the point that they are now the mainstream public view of what christianity stands for in America, and that for some reason our public policies are supposed to kowtow to this vile poison of christian teachings.

I don't believe in the devil, but if I did I'm sure you could rest assured that he'd be quite supportive of their efforts and firmly a member of the evangelical community. There'd be no better way he could steer the faithful away from the teachings of Jesus.

As a Christian I really can't disagree with you. I hate the fact that "Love your neighbor" isn't nearly as important as "no homo." That caring for the poor, the sick, the oppressed is less important than low taxes and being able to legally discriminate against gays. If there is a devil, he's doing a damn fine job of taking Christianity down from the inside.

One of my bucket list goals in life, I've decided, is to get internet ordained and perform a gay wedding. I thought doing so would be difficult in Texas, but as of this week, that might be less tough than I thought.

Been a scout for over 20 years, "morally straight" to me always meant being straight with your decisions, your ethics, your morals...not necessarily "straight" orientation. Churches abandoning scout troops because of this and taking away a place and group that kids, a lot of which don't have a lot of other options other than getting into crime or gangs, to me is more off-moral than being inclusive.

See, this is what I was saying in yesterday's thread about disney removing funding from the BSA because they don't allow gay leaders. The BSA is obviously taking steps in the right direction if they have anti-gay splinter groups forming. It just isn't far enough yet.

This might actually be a very good thing: if all the really extreme right-wing types leave BSA, then maybe BSA can become more accepting. Not holding my breath, but anything that can help revert the stranglehold that various christian-ish religions have on the BSA can only be a good thing.

I already had to leave BSA due to my [lack of] religious beliefs; the anti-homosexual stuff was just one more reason to stay away -- and that pisses me off, because I feel that I had some good times and learned some useful lessons through my time in scouting (Eagle in 1990, Nat'l Jamboree 1989, World Jamboree 1991). I wish my kids could have had some of those same experiences, but I couldn't stomach the necessary hypocrisy.